[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by waterninja

Yes, I think that most people know about the weeds cosumption of oxygen when they decompose. It's a good pointh and is the main reason a pond or small lake will winterkill over a winter. There are also summer kills that can happen because of Algae blooms. I never once said Sticklebacks are the main or only reason a lake will winter kill, but they can become a huge problem when they are overpopulated. They also compete with trout for food. At least that is what a fish biologist that works for the AB govt. told me.
Perch can also be a big problem. Cormorants, cranes, pelicans,etc. can also be a problem for perch. Lots of other factors and conditions can also effect the health/ survival rate of Trout.

My main point for bringing up Sticklebacks is that since the pond has no trout anyways, this would be a good time to clean it up properly and then restock it with fresh healthy trout.
Heck that would be a perfect small pond to aerate, but I doubt the City would allow that.

For stocked trout stickleback are a food source not a competitor for resources. They can survive lower O2 levels in water. They also are great for eating mosquitoes in ditches.